OPD Story | Christmas Special

OPD Story | Christmas Special (From last night to this morning)

At 10:30 PM last night, a 78-year-old gentleman came to the emergency department. He was very sincere, neat, and calm.

Complaint? - Sudden dizziness followed by loss of consciousness.

History? No history of BP or Diabetes.

I started asking the usual questions... "When did the dizziness start?" "Any prior symptoms?" "Any medications?"

The gentleman and his family were honest but nothing concrete emerged.

Now there was no option but to activate the doctor's reflex: - MRI - Holter - Echo would be needed.

Meanwhile, the gentleman innocently said, "Sir, I ate plum cake yesterday evening..."

I smiled and said, "That's fine. I'm not very rigid about diet. It's a festival season, India is a land of festivals." Christmas vibes, feeling relaxed.

But then the gentleman gave a real twist. He said, "Sir, that plum cake was not ordinary..."

And then the recipe started: - Plums soaked in rum for 6 months - Lots of alcohol used while making the cake - Extra drizzle on top to make it softer

And our gentleman? - Trusted the "Sir has given permission" - Ate a big piece of cake

At that moment, I got the diagnosis. No need for MRI, Holter, or Echo.

Diagnosis: Age + Alcohol-soaked plum cake = Emergency visit

I looked at the gentleman and said, "For the next 6 months, no diet concessions. Zero discount."

The gentleman was calm, but... His wife's satisfied expression was worth seeing. She was reading not a prescription but a justice order!

Learning (for you and me): - "Home-made" does not mean harmless - The recipe matters a lot - With age, body tolerance decreases - Festivals are for joy, not emergencies

And a lesson for me: When giving diet concessions, the recipe must also be considered!

Do you have any "home-made but dangerous" experience? Plum cake, modak, sheera, or a story about "just two bites"? Please share in the comments.

Dr Ravindra L. Kulkarni, MD, DNB, FSCAI (Cardiology) Just For Hearts